as im contributing more to mapillary and doing more driving im getting a lot more chips on my windscreen than usual. its getting so bad lately that every 10 to 20 photos it focuses slightly on the windscreen which means the road isnt in perfect focus, and then every once in a while it goes really out of focus like this:

is it possible with the android api to tell the camera not to focus on anything up close? the windscreen is around a foot away from the camera but most of things of interest on the road would be a few meters away at the closest so theres no need to focus so close

the camera is mounted as close as i can get it and i clean the windscreen most days when i start. my setup hasnt really changed much since a year ago when the camera was focusing perfectly for each shot so none of those reasons should be an issue. although i have moved the black cloth slightly since then so i could do a better job of hiding those reflections at the side… but anyway in this case the camera is definitely focusing on the chips in the glass.

Unfortunately the Mapillary app is fairly limited in photographic features - developers, this looks like a feature request!

A workaround could be to use the Open Camera app, where you can lock the focus or set it to infinity. It also has a repeat unlimited features (as well as exposure compensation), geo tagging and repeat mode interval can be set to a distance, so it pauses when you stop.

Unfortunately you will then have to use a computer to upload the images, but you will get much better control.

Focus on windscreen is always an issue, despite carefully cleaning the windscreen and putting a black felt on the dashboard. So I use the fixed_focus option that is available and focus at infinity on my two smartphones. Not available on your xz1? Did you try to activate the “Force the use of the legacy Camera API” in Developer settings?

The Mapillary App has a ‘Fixed focus at infinity’ in Settings -> Camera which in theory should solve your issue. That said, it resulted in all photos being slightly out of focus with the phone I tested this on.

Hi @filipc, I’m sorry, it wouldn’t. I should’ve been more clear that in “like this one”, my example was meant as a general concept.

I’ll undertake this for myself for my garmins at some point this year. I’m waiting until I get a new car. The Nissan Cube I have has a fairly straight up and windshield. Most cars have a much more of an angle. In fact having some angle on the side windows. That’s my excuse for procrastination on this.

But ya, it’s going to have to be something much smaller. In fact, I may see what I can do with rubber. The other issue is that when I get the cameras too close to the side windows, I can and do hit bumps that have caused them to wack the window. That’s actually ended up in a scratch or two. Not a big deal on this one but it’ll matter for the new one.